After having to take a short break from touring, Joe Diffie returned to the stage to entertain his fans at the Tequila Cowboy in Lansing, MI.
19-May-2016: On March 08, the 90s country superstar underwent back surgery for spinal stenosis, a narrowing of spaces in the spine which causes pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. Upon a brief rehabilitation period, Joe Diffie has returned to touring and entertaining crowds as he has done for the past three decades.
On this evening, Joe climbed on stage at the newly opened Tequila Cowboy in Lansing to a large crowd that eagerly awaited his return. Opening the show with his No. 1 hit from 1994, “Third Rock From The Sun,” the fans welcomed Joe and his band by cheering him on and singing along.
Joe’s performance included all his greatest hits from a successful career that dates back to 1990 with Epic Records. Most of those songs can now be found on his album, The Ultimate Collection, from his new label, Rounder Records.
With no signs of pain or discomfort, as were evident in past performances, Joe appeared to have fun on stage with his band as they played. Joe even gave a shout out to his bass guitarist who grew up and lived a few miles away in the town of Flint, Michigan and also had his mother in attendance. After the introductions, the bass player sang “The Weight” by The Band.
From the time Joe walked out on stage, the crowd swarmed the front of the stage to get a good look at him and be as close to the action as they could get. With the faster up-tempo songs like “C-O-U-N-T-R-Y,” “Pickup Man” and “Prop Me Up Beside The Jukebox (If I Die),” the crowd sang along as they held their drinks in the air. For the slower ballads like “So Help Me Girl,” “Home,” “Behind Closed Doors” and Joe’s favorite “Ships That Don’t Come In,” the crowd sang along as couples slow danced at the back of the dance floor.
Joe ended his set with a crowd favorite “John Deere Green” before leaving the stage. Joe quickly returned for an encore with “Honky Tonk Attitude” after his fans called him back to the stage with chants of “We Want Joe.”
With refreshed feelings from a successful back surgery and a strong fan support, Joe continues to add shows to his tour that shows no signs of slowing down again anytime soon.
Starting the evening off and getting the crowd pumped up was Ben Gallaher. Ben warmed up the crowd by playing original songs, like “Regular People,” to covers, like “Tennessee Whiskey.” He closed his set with an Alabama tribute of songs.
Joe Diffie
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Ben Gallaher
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Tequila Cowboy
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Joe Diffie’s setlist:
Third Rock From The Sun 2. Next Thing Smokin’ 3. C-O-U-N-T-R-Y 4. So Help Me Girl 5. Pickup Man 6. A Night To Remember 7. Home 8. If The Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets) 9. Texas Sized Heartache 10. Behind Closed Doors 11. The More You Drink, The Better I Look 12. Ships That Don’t Come In 13. Is It Cold In Here 14. The Weight (The Band cover by bass guitarist) 15. It’s Always Something 16. New Way (To Light Up An Old Flame) 17. Prop Me Up Beside The Jukebox (If I Die) 18. John Deere Green 19. Encore – Honky Tonk Attitude